Kailasagiri

A Painting and a Story # 12

Meenu (short for Meenakshi) waits patiently in her Maruti 800, her 'a brand-new-used-car'! Kitta her brother has gifted it to her in celebration of his new status as Employed-MBA. She is waiting for a friend who has planned a day-long getaway. Saroja joins her quickly. They are driving to Kailasagiri. It is the first day of a short winter vacation. Meenu is a teacher. She has grabbed the first job she could find after her post graduation.  Two others will join them at the ornate Archway at the entrance to the park, Kailasagiri. The famed Archway is the pride of Visakapatnam. 

But Meenu secretly dislikes it! The earthy archway stretches across the large road and has human sculptures in various postures all over it. Intermingling with human forms is flora in the form of vines and leaves. It's unique. Just like Kitta, Meenu smiles fondly! The gift of the car was splendid, generous, but ... a little overboard, don't you think! Added to that he has installed a mini fire-extinguisher in the car. Seriously! What was her brother thinking! 

Anyway the girly outing turns out to be a super success. They giggle and click pictures like teenagers in the ropeway that takes them all the way up to Kailasagiri. They walk around in the pleasant green park, visit the dominating white statues of Shiva and Parvati and avoid the toy train ride! The food stop is fulfilling. They share plates of mirchi bajji, muri masala (puffed rice) bread pakoda and scoops of ice cream! All in all a day well spent. Promising to catch up again, they decide to return home.

Meenu notices two guys on a bike at the Simhachalam junction. She drops Saroja off at her apartment and moves on stealing a glance at the rear mirror. The two guys on a bike have been behind her car for quite some time now. She accelerates ahead but doesn't get far as there is much traffic on the road. She takes a quick right hoping they miss the turn. But to her dismay they are right behind her now. Just then an autorikshaw loaded with fish comes to a spluttering halt right in front. Meenu apples brake and the bike cautiously moves up to her window. Not willing to slide the window up in obvious display of fear, she looks at them sternly. The young man in front pulls off his helmet and says, 'Madam this fire-extinguisher in the car... good madam!' Meenu doesn't know what he's saying. The young man continues... "My company madam. I work in Sun company" the man says GROWING TEN FEET TALL with pride. Relief floods in. Meenu is herself again! She smiles at him and nods her approval. 'Madam, have you used it' he asks the bewildered Meenu. 'No' she says and shakily moves on now that the road is clear. (Some things you buy as safety nets, medical insurance, fire-extinguishers, raincoats...! You don't really look forward to using them!) 

Pride in the company that employs us, pride in the work that we do, what wonders it does to our life and to the way we live it. Good healthy pride ensures integrity. Our souls sing. And we are in what modern thinkers call The FLOW. 

 This weekend is Ganesh Chaturthi. May we enjoy and be safe in the grace of Gowri and Ganesha. 

My painting for this week is an Acrylic painting Natya Ganapati. This one is now in my cousin's factory.

Acrylic - Ganesha